As our loved ones age, it’s natural to worry about their well-being and whether they can manage daily tasks on their own. Recognizing the signs that they might need in-home care is crucial to ensuring their safety and quality of life.
Melissa Murphy (Founder & CEO, Aging Advocates) and Gwen Crossett (CEO, Constant Care247) expand on their conversation with NewsChannel9 about the common signs a senior may need in-home care.
Does your loved one show these signs? Contact our senior care experts to schedule a free discovery call.
10 Signs a Loved One Needs In-Home Care
- Memory Issues
- Personal Hygiene Issues
- Unintended Weight Loss
- Self-Isolation & Social Reclusion
- Lack of Housekeeping
- Mobility Challenges
- Difficulty Driving
- Sudden Changes in Behavior
- Unexplained Bruises
- Getting Lost & Wandering
1. Memory Issues
Forgetfulness is often one of the first signs that something might be amiss. While it’s normal to forget things occasionally as we age, a noticeable increase in forgetfulness or confusion should not be ignored. This could manifest as:
- Missing appointments
- Forgetting to pay bills
- Allowing unopened mail to pile up
- Misplacing items in unexpected places
- Accidentally mixing up medications
- Wandering aimlessly
- Locking themselves outside of the home
- Trouble recounting past events
Aggressive memory issues can severely impact a person’s daily functions and isn’t a normal sign of aging. It’s important to address memory issues as it can be an early symptom of dementia.
2. Personal Hygiene Issues
While a sharp decline in personal hygiene alone is alarming enough, it can typically indicate larger issues, whether mental, emotional, or physical. A loved one who struggles to maintain their daily grooming needs may also face challenges completing daily tasks such as cleaning the home, running errands, and more.
When checking in on a loved one, take note of the following:
- Do you consistently notice a strong body odor?
- Have they brushed their teeth?
- Are they wearing clean clothes?
- Are their socks or shoes matching?
A lack of personal grooming may also have psychological drawbacks. Your loved one may feel insecure and begin to self-isolate, which often leads to further emotional decline.
3. Unintended Weight Loss
Several factors that contribute to unintended weight fluctuation, from poor nutrition and a lack of exercise to medication side effects. Weight loss is particularly concerning because it can be linked to a disruption in daily activities.
Ask yourself:
- Is your loved one able to purchase groceries?
- Are they able to prepare meals?
- Are they forgetting to eat?
- Do they have a low appetite?
- Is their appetite loss tied to an emotional change?
Talk to a physician or nutritionist to understand the underlying causes of the weight loss and rule out any serious issues.
For basic support, consider looking into meal delivery services like Meals on Wheels, local meal planning services, or grocery delivery services to support your loved one. If the weight loss causes are more significant, it might be time to invest in in-home care.
4. Self-Isolation & Social Reclusion
Wanting to be alone might seem inconsequential at first, but prolonged social isolation can have severe health effects. A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) found that older adults, especially seniors aged 65+, often experience loneliness due to social isolation.
Their findings:
- In older adults, social reclusion significantly increases the risks of premature death or hospitalization from all causes.
- The risk of heart disease increased by 29%, the risk of death by heart failure quadrupled, and the risk of stroke jumped by 32%.
- Loneliness coincided with mental and behavioral health issues, including higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
- Isolation was connected with a 50% increase in dementia.
When checking on your loved one, note why they’re self-isolating. Do they no longer enjoy activities they used to like? Or are they avoiding social interactions due to another cause (e.g., poor hygiene, depression, mobility challenges)? Some health conditions like hearing loss and vision impairment may lead to accessibility issues that affect a person’s ability to socialize.
5. Lack of Housekeeping
Like poor personal hygiene, a sudden lack of housekeeping can suggest deeper underlying physical or emotional issues affecting normal routines. An unkempt house can also pose safety and health risks—expired food, mold growth, and tripping hazards can deteriorate a senior’s well-being.
When checking on your loved one, keep an eye out for:
- Sink full of dirty dishes
- Piles of unwashed laundry
- Clutter that inhibits mobility
- Piles of uncollected or unopened mail, especially unpaid bills
- Moldy foods left out
- Empty or unclean refrigerator
- Odd smells in the home
- Unmaintained yard
Talk to your loved one to understand if they feel overwhelmed with home maintenance. You may find they’re facing mobility, motivational, or financial issues that they didn’t want to burden you with. The right in-home care provider can support your loved one with chores and establish a healthy daily routine.
6. Mobility Challenges
Mobility issues are common as we age. But, when they start to impact daily functions, seniors may need additional in-person support to carry out functional tasks safely. After all, accidental falls are the leading cause of injury and death for older adults, with more than 3,000 fatal senior falls occurring each month in 2022 alone.
You might notice your loved one walking with a staggered pace or irregular steps. Or perhaps they struggle with steps and often trip on rugs.
There are home adjustments that help elderly people live independently in their homes:
- Installing grab bars in the bathroom
- Using railings on the stairs
- Using a walker or wheelchair
- Getting a fall detection device
- Removing items from high cabinets
It’s important to note that low mobility may also be linked with underlying health conditions that require medical or healthcare support. There are varying levels of in-home care services available that can help seniors adhere to prescribed medical treatments and healthcare plans.
Additionally, low mobility may contribute to difficulties maintaining one’s personal hygiene, home chores, nutrition, social schedule, and emotional state.
7. Difficulty Driving
Driving requires quick reflexes and sharp cognitive skills, both of which can decline with age. If your loved one is experiencing difficulty driving—whether through slower reaction times, mobility issues, visual impairment, confusion on familiar routes, or minor accidents—it may be time to consider in-home care or alternative transportation options to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
8. Sudden Changes in Behavior
A sudden, uncharacteristic change in behavior with little obvious explanation could be a sign of a mental or behavioral health condition, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s, that requires medical expertise. One condition is Sundowner’s Syndrome, a behavioral condition that causes people to feel confused and agitated as the day gets darker.
Be on the lookout for:
- Sudden mood swings
- Increased irritability
- Aggressive behavior
- Paranoid tendencies
- Delusions or hallucinations
- Confusion or cognitive decline
In-home care options can provide consistent senior support to ensure your loved one is safe and comfortable, even when you’re not around.
9. Unexplained Bruises
Older adults tend to bruise more easily as the body loses fat and slows collagen production in the skin. It’s not unheard of for older adults to experience mild bruising, even while being careful doing routine tasks. However, frequent bruises and other unexplained injuries may indicate more complications that need serious intervention.
So what causes bruising in seniors?
- Medications: Some medications act as blood thinners, which can increase the risk of bruising.
- Poor nutrition: A diet low in vitamin C and iron can increase the risk of bruising. Seniors should consult a nutritionist or take supplements to balance their diet.
- Coordination issues: As mobility declines, it can be harder for older adults to coordinate. Address accessibility hazards in the home.
- Health conditions: Kidney and liver diseases like diabetes can affect blood composition, resulting in bruising.
- Elder abuse: Frequent bruising accompanied by negative changes in behavior may suggest elder abuse. If you suspect elder abuse, call the adult services hotline for advice on next steps.
Having an in-home care assistant can help monitor your loved ones to ensure they’re taking proper safety precautions. As always, check in on your loved ones, healthcare providers, and in-home care providers to stay updated.
10. Getting Lost & Wandering
Wandering aimlessly or getting lost in familiar places is one of the telltale signs of cognitive decline and is often linked with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Some people wander away intentionally due to confusion. They might say they need to be somewhere, try to go to work when they’re retired, or look for something they need.
Here are a few key wandering facts to know:
- About 36% of people with dementia wander, and six out of 10 people with dementia will wander at least once.
- Wandering can occur at home (restless pacing) or in public spaces. Triggers include confusion, disorientation, memory loss, changes in environment, and changes in medication.
- Wandering poses safety risks to all. Older adults may be at risk of car accidents, weather exposure, dehydration, drowning, and complications from not taking medication.
In-home care professionals are trained to understand dementia traits, helping seniors with empathy to limit confusion and ensure a safe environment.
Does My Loved One Need In-Home Care?
In short, it depends! Recognizing these signs is the first step in ensuring your loved one receives the care they need. In-home care offers numerous benefits, including personalized support, companionship, and the ability to remain in a familiar environment.
If you notice any of these signs in your loved one, take the time to research the options available to them. Providing the right care can make a significant difference in their quality of life while giving you peace of mind knowing they are well taken care of.
Explore Aging Advocates’ senior care services to understand your options for supporting your loved ones!